"No man can outrun my atomic lances. . . not even you Flash"-Starro, threatening Flash with a line that would have worked in Orgazmo, from The Brave and The Bold #28 (1960).

July 29, 2008

Summer Reruns: the Elite 1,600 Comics of All-Time

I am away on vacation for a couple of weeks. I've pre-written a couple of entries to post while I'm gone, but Mag is working 26 hour days and we decided that to keep content going, we'd post a smattering a reruns from the Treadmill's past over the next couple weeks.

This first one is my response to the Comic Buyer's Guide's list of the best 1,600 comics of all-time, initially posted "I can't believe it was that long ago" in November 2004.

I wonder how many of my opinions would be different four years later? I can say that at the urging of commenters, I did read and enjoy the hell out of two collections of Hate, so I'm willing to move that up to the "They Got That Right Category".

From here on in, it's a non-editorialized reprint of the initial post. Enjoy!

Hot on the heels of my wishy-washy review of the new Comics Buyerís Guide format comes the latest issue with a special feature that caught my interest so much I decided to subject it to closer analysis on the Treadmill.

Specifically, issue 1,600 of the CBG had a feature entitled 1,600 comics you need to have. Itís worth reading. Itís also worth examining to see how many comics on CBG's list would make my elite box of 1,600 of the top comics. In other words, CBGís feature is just dying for a back seat driver, so here goes my commentary on the selections, categorized as:

They got that right;

Good, but not top 1,600 material;

Never read it, but they probably got it right;

Never read it and Iím not willing to concede they got it right;

Huh? This wasnít very good at all; and

There's something funny in that cheese up there in Wisconsin, but I'm not laughing!

You wonít be seeing Hís list of the top 1,600 comics. Why not? Simple. Critiquing somebody elseís list? Easy work. Doing the research to come up with a list Iím comfortable defending? Hard work.

They Got That Right
-Adventure 340-355 (16 issues, 1966-1967)
Absolutely. By issue 340, the series had grown its legs and was in its prime. These stories are fantastic.
-Age of Bronze 1-16 (16 issues, 1998-2003)
See here for the reasons why I agree with this choice.
-All-Star Comics 34-38 (5 issues, 1947)
The DC Archive collection taught me that the early JSA stories donít stand the test of time. But the later ones, including these 5 sure do. See here for my earlier entries on these gems.
-Amazing Spider-Man 1-50 and Amazing Fantasy 15 (51 issues, 1962-67)
A time-tested classic run that gives me the warm fuzzies.
-Amazing Spider-Man 68-77 (10 issues, 1969)
The Stone Tablet Saga. Some great Stan Lee/John Romita tales.
-Animal Man 1-5 (5 issues, 1988)
Somewhere in Michigan, Dave Fiore (start on 2/9 for some excellent analysis of this series by its biggest admirer) just let rip with a primal scream that the whole Morrison run on this title wasnít included. And heís absolutely right. All of them make my elite box.
-Astro City Vol. 1 0-6, Vol. 2 1-22 (29 issues, 1995-2000)
Iíll concede that 29 issues of this series is a bit of overkill since it ran out of a lot of steam over time. Still, a good chunk of them belong on the list.
-Avengers 89-97 (9 issues, 1971-1972)
The Kree-Skrull war. This is good enough to make the cut, but Iíd argue vigorously to include a lot more of Thomasí Avengers stories on this list.
-Avengers 115-118 and Defenders 8-11 (8 issues, 1973)
Oh yeah. Steve Englehartís Avengers vs. Defenders epic. This would make my box of the elite 100 comics. Almost all of Englehartís run deserves to make the list.
-Avengers 167-168, 170-177 (10 issues, 1978)
This list is woefully short on Avengers stories and there's a lot omitted that are better than this. That said, Iíve no qualms about including this too.
-Batman 404-408 (5 issues, 1987)
My recent indexing of Batman led me to conclude that there have been a surprisingly small number of outstanding Batman stories. This (Frank Millerís Year One) is one of them.
-Batman: The Dark Knight 1-4 (4 issues, 1986)
If only they were all so easy to categorize. Go here for more Treadmill talk.
-Camelot 3000 1-12 (12 issues, 1982-1985)
Overlooking how long it took to publish the darn thing, it was a great twist on the Arthurian legend and as far as Iím concerned, the best comics interpretation of all that Camelot stuff.
-Cerebus 1-50 (50 issues, 1977-1983)
It wasnít long after this that Dave Sim lost me on this title, but the first 50 issues are worthy.
-Donald Duck Four Color Comics (25 non-consecutive issues from 1940-1952)
Okay. Iíll admit I have no idea if Iíve read the specific Carl Barks stories listed, but Iíve read enough Carl Barksí Donald Duck stories to accept any 25 in the elite box.
-Fantastic Four 36-52, Annuals 2-3 (19 issues, 1961-66)
No argument this run belongs, but a strong argument could be made to extend it at either end. In fact, the absence of the first 35 issues of the FF is hard to accept.
-Flash 129-139 (11 issues, 1962-1963)
CBG admits that at 11 issues, it is giving the Silver Age Flash short shrift (see here for gushing about the Silver Age Flash). Iíll argue that the elite box needs more of this run, but I wonít quibble with the inclusion of at least these 11 issues.
-Flash 95-100 (6 issues, 1994-1995)
This story focused on Mark Waidís wonderful Speed Force concept. Although not as classic as many others in this section, it is a strong story featuring one of my favorite characters (pick a Flash, any Flash. I like Ďem all).
-Green Lantern Vol. 2 76-87, 89 (13 issues, 1970-1972)
Itís sad that this is the only run of any Green Lantern series that is worthy of consideration for this list.
-JLA 1-4 (4 issues, 1997)
No doubt about it this time. The cut-off was way too early, missing a lot of the amazing things Morrison accomplished with this revival. The list needs to extend the run of the title.
-Justice League of America 9-22 (14 issues, 1962-1963)
I donít disagree with the inclusion of these early issues by Gardner Fox and Mike Sekowsky, but there was a great run in the early 1970ís after Fox finished. Those deserve to be on this list too.
-Kingdom Come 1-4 (4 issues, 1996)
Others may protest, but this series was brimming with the type of crazily imaginative ideas that comics are so good at.
-League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen 1-6 (6 issues, 1999-2000)
This makes the list on the basis of the brilliant concept. The fantastic Alan Moore story is just a bonus.
-Legion of Super-Heroes 290-294, Annual 3 (1982, 1984)
The Great Darkness Saga. Yes it is. Great. And a saga. But weíre focusing on the great part today.
-Little Lulu Four Color (10 non-consecutive issues 1945-1947)
John Stanley rules. Again, I have no idea if Iíve read all 10 of these, but every issue of John Stanleyís Little Lulu Iíve ever read qualifies as elite box material. Stanley was a one-of-a-kind master.
-Mad 1-23 (23 issues, 1952-1955)
Classic and stinkiní funny.Marvels 1-4 (4 issues, 1994)
Four issues of an interesting perspective on classic Marvel comics.
-Megaton Man 1-10 (10 issues, 1984-1986)
Iím taking a risk here. I havenít reread these since they first came out, but I remember it got a lot of laughs from me, so Iím going to go out on a limb that it stands the test of time.
-Miracleman 1-16 (1985-1988)
Another series I havenít reread since it came out, but I vividly remember being sucked into to every issue of this masterpiece.
-New Teen Titans 39-44, Annual 3 (7 issues, 1984)
The Judas Contract story was the peak of this inconsistent, but often great title.
-Sandman 19-28 (10 issues, 1990-1991)
Why just 10 issues? The whole series deserves to be included. You know it. I know it. Glad we agree.
-Silver Surfer 1-7 (7 issues, 1968-1969)
This series ran out of gas quickly, but at its inception, Stan proved he was the man.
-The Spirit 1/4/48-12/25/49 (104 issues)
Iím cheating again. I have no idea how many of these I've read, but if you don't have Eisner's Spirit on your list, your credibility is suspect.
-Squadron Supreme 1-12 (12 issues, 1985-1986)
Okay Dave, you can exhale now. It made CBG's list. Mine too.
-Superman 146-169 (24 issues, 1961-1964)
I have read most of these and wholeheartedly agree that they represent the finest Silver Age Superman stories.
-Swamp Thing 20-64 (45 issues, 1984-1987)
Is there another comic that has a 45 issue run even close to comparable to this? I say thee nay!
-Uncle Scrooge Four Color 386, 456, 495 (3 issues, 1952-1953)
Everything I said about Donald Duck above applies here.
-Watchmen 1-12 (12 issues, 1986-1987)
This series is probably too good to be in the elite box.
-X-Men 111-142 (32 issues, 1978-1981)
Not all of this run were gems, but most of them were. So, Iíll agree with the decision to throw the whole period in. Sure the popularity of these stories led to the unfettered growth and consequent demise of the X-Men franchise and the unity of Marvelís serial adventures, but that was the fault of later decision-makers, not these stories.
-Zot! 30-36 (7 issues, 1990-1991)
The first 29 issues belong here too. Zot! Is sorely missed.

Good, but not top 1,600 material
-Action Comics 507-508, 510-512 (5 issues, 1980)
These were solid Cary Bates stories. But they lacked the intangibles necessary to make the elite box. Sorry Cary.
-Batman 148-159, 164 (13 issues, 1963-1964)
If you hate the just pre-new look Batman, I understand. But for me, these stories (a couple of which are discussed here)had a charm. Not top-notch charm mind you. These donít belong in the top 1,600, but I like Ďem well enough.
-Bone 1-55 (1991-2004)
This was a tough one to bump out of the top list. Iíve never reread these, but I recall being enthralled with it at first and then becoming disinterested enough to drop it figuring Iíd pick the end up in a trade collection down the road. Which I still havenít done. Iím not saying this isnít very good, but I have qualms about making it a must have item.
-Concrete 1-10 (10 issues, 1987-1988)
I liked this. But I stop short of calling it a classic.
-Green Arrow 1-10 (10 issues, 2001-2002)
I liked this. But I stop short of calling it a classic. Am I repeating myself?
-Inferior Five 1-5 (1967)
I have nothing bad to say about these, but they donít meet the arbitrary standard for a top 1,600 book.
-Marvel vs. DC/DC vs. Marvel 1-4 (4 issues, 1996)
This was good fun, but no more than that.
-Normalman 1-12, Annual 1 (13 issues, 1984-1985)
This was very good. But I hesitate to put a parody of super hero comics of a specific era, no matter how good, in the elite box.
-Superboy 89-100 (12 issues, 1961-1962)
Silver Age Superboy had a lot of great silly stories. Theyíre enjoyable, but not quite good enough to make the elite box.
-Thor 337-340 (4 issues, 1983-1984)
Outside of the Avengers, Thor has never captured my interest. And although Walt Simonson had a strong run starting here, I canít put a comic with Beta Ray Bill on my must have list.
-Ultimates 1-13 (13 issues, 2003-2004)
As noted here, I surprised myself by liking this. But I certainly didnít enjoy it enough to make the elite box.

Never read it, but they probably got it right
-Acme Novelty Library 1-15 (15 issues, 1993-2001)
I want to read this series. It had the bad luck of being issued at a time I wasnít buying many comics and was out of touch with the buzz of what I should be getting.
-Adventures of Peter Wheat 1-35 (35 issues, 1948-1952)
I had never heard of this before, but Walt Kelly did them so Iím willing to hold 35 slots open for this title in the elite box.
-Airboy Comics Vol. 5 11-12 (2 issues, 1948-1949)
This one gets the benefit of the doubt based on the CBG description.
-Animal Comics 1-30 (30 issues, 1942-1947)
Walt Kelly introduces Pogo and John Stanley does some stories. This is probably worthy, but Iíve never read it.
-Boys Ranch 1-6 (6 issues, 1950-1951)
Kirbyís other kid gang stories were almost always a hoot. Never read this one, but I have no reason to think it would be any different.
-Captain Marvel Adventures 22-46 (25 issues, 1943-45)
This is the Monster Society Of Evil epic, which is far and away the comics story Iíve yet to read and must before I die.
-Classics Illustrated 1-27 (27 issues, 1990-1991)
Another one that escaped my radar, the creator list provided by CBGís recap caught my interest.
-From Hell 1-11 (11 issues, 1991-1998)
Hey. Get off my back. I missed a lot of comics in the 1990s. I was busy moving, getting married and having kids.
-Haunt of Fear 19-28 (10 issues, 1953-1954)
E.C. were the only comics my Dad ever read when he was a kid. He had probably stopped reading comics by 1953, but Iíll agree to make sure E.C. is represented.
-Invisible People 1-3 (3 issues, 1992)
Iím not familiar with it, but itís Will Eisner people. Donít argue.
-Leave It To Chance 1-12 (12 issues, 1996-1999)
A victim of being published at a time when most comics were off my radar, this is on my short list of haven't read, but must do so.
-Strangers in Paradise Vol. 1 1-3, Vol. 2 1-14 (17 issues, 1993-1996)
The danger of todayís entry is that it exposes me to the world for my inexcusable failure to have read a number of acclaimed comics. Go easy on me. I want to read this. Some day I will. Promise.
-Sugar & Spike 1-33 (33 issues, 1956-1961)
Iíve read only one issue of this series. Iíd love to read them all to my kids. Why wonít DC Archive these babies?
-Supreme 41-52b (12 issues 1996-1997)
An Alan Moore super hero story. Must be good. Published during the H dark era of comics. But speaking of Alan Moore, why isnít Top Ten on this list?
-Thirteen Going on Eighteen 1-29 (29 issues, 1961-1971)
Whatís this? John Stanley did a series with a 13 year-old girl as the lead? Why wasnít I told about this before? And why hasnít this been collected in some form?

Never read it and Iím not willing to agree they got it right
-Akiko 1-18 (18 issues, 1996-1997)
Iíve nothing against people who enjoy manga. Iíve nothing against a broad spectrum of comics choices. But donít ask me to like it. And donít ask me to put it in my precious 1,600 elite box.
-Alien vs. Predator 1-4 (4 issues, 1990)
I was not the target audience of this comic.
-Ash 0-6 (7 issues, 1994-1996)
Firefighter comics just donít do the trick for me. Not even Fireman Farrell.
-The Authority 1-12 (12 issues, 1999-2000)
ďRealisticĒ and dark super hero comics with lots of deaths and imperfect leads. It may be good, but Watchmen and Miracleman set the standard here and anything else has to overcome a huge burden of proving itself worthy of being elite.
-Batman 608-619 (12 issues, 2002-2003)
I read the first half of the Hush saga. I thought it was okay. Many people (Scott (go to 6/22 and 6/23) being the first to come to mind) despise the whole story. Iím taking their side until I have a chance to read the end.
-Cosmo The Merry Martian 1-6 (6 issues, 1958)
CBG made a commendable effort to include a fair amount of non-super hero stuff. Good for them. But Iíve never heard of this series and remain a skeptic.
-Dark Horse Presents 51-62 (12 issues, 1991-92)
I could be in trouble for this one. First, Iím admitting that Iíve never read Sin City. Second, Iím admitting that Frank Miller misses more often than he hits for me. It might be worth. I might like it. But again, Iím erring on the side of skepticism.
-Deathlok 1-4 (4 issues, 1990)
A character that fails to interest me. Marvel had a lot of characters this list passed over (what about the brilliant Ka-Zar run of the early 1980ís guys and gals of CBG?)
-Dynamo 1-4 (4 issues, 1966-1967)
Despite the stellar list of artists, the Tower comics line never appealed to me.
-Hate 1-15 (15 issues, 1990-1994)
Never heard of this before. CBGís description is intriguing, but my rule is when in doubt, be skeptical.
-Lone Wolf and Cub 1-28 (28 issues, 2000-2002)
I know. I know. Everyone and their mother liked this, but try as I might, I canít generate the enthusiasm to read it.
-Magnus Robot Fighter 1-21 (21 issues, 1963-1968)
No interest in this.
-Ms. Tree 10-50 (41 issues, 1984-1989)
Iím not a fan of hard-boiled detective stories (outside of Who Framed Roger Rabbit anyway). And I protest the inclusion of 41 issues of such a series. We have a space limit to work with here people!
-Our Gang With Tom And Jerry 46-57 (12 issues, 1948-1949)
Another commendable attempt to include a fair amount of non-super hero stuff. But how this relatively obscure 12 issue run makes the list and no Archies do, bugs me.
-Oz-Wonderland Wars 1-3 (3 issues, 1986)
Again I whine. More funny animals, but no Archie?
-Powers 1-6 (6 issues, 2000)
Iíve liked some Brian Michael Bendis stories Iíve read. The majority fall into the ďehhhh, itís okayĒ category. Some, like the Avengers fiasco qualify for inclusion in the worst comics ever written box. But heís never written anything that has wowed me enough to include in the elite box.
-Raggedy Ann & Andy 1-39 (39 issues, 1946-1949)
I know nothing about this comic. It may well have the charm necessary to justify inclusion in the elite box. But I donít know. And 39 issues? Do I need to complain again that Silver Age Flash only got 11?
-Ranma Ĺ Part 1 1-7 (7 issues, 1991)
See Akiko at the top of this section
-Solar, Man of the Atom 1-12 (12 issues, 1991-1992)
This is clearly well drawn. But Iíve seen Shooter address the normal man with infinite power theme too many times to agree without reading it that it must be a classic.
-Stray Bullets 1-5 (5 issues, 1995)
Crime noir. I'll pass. What would be the least appealing comic to me? How about Brian Michael Bendis and Gerry Conway collaborating to do a noir crime fiction manga style Avengers epic which inexplicably turns a good guy into a bad guy and then has a letters page insulting the readers? Yep. That should do it.
-Truth: Red, White and Black 1-7 (7 issues, 2003)
I shouldnít say this about something Iíve never actually read. But from what Iíve heard, I had a hard time not lumping this in with the ďThere's something funny in that cheese up there in Wisconsin, but I'm not laughing!Ē losers.
-Usagi Yojimbo Vol. 3 13-22 (10 issues, 1997-1998)
See Akiko at the top of this section

Huh? This wasnít very good at all
-American Flagg! 1-26 (26 issues, 1983-1985)
This should cause trouble. But I donít like Howard Chaykinís writing. Which isnít to say that I donít see why he is generally well respected. I'm not saying only lunkheads like him. I'm just saying I don't. I did admire a lot of the ideas he threw out in this series, but I never enjoyed the whole product. Why I donít like Chaykin is a good idea for a lengthy entry of its own some day.
-Astonishing Tales 25-28, 30-36 (11 issues, 1974-1976)
How does Deathlok rate two entries on the CBG list? Clearly, the cyborg has some blackmail material against the editors.
-Conan 1-21 (21 issues, 1970-1972)
Even when I liked reading Conan books, this series fell flat for me. I tried to pick up a Conan book about 12 years ago. Young H and older H disagreed on its merits.
-Crisis On Infinite Earths 1-12 (12 issues, 1985)
Okay, historically this is an important comic. And I love the George Perez art. There are even plenty of memorable scenes. But in the end, it is a poorly written story and my elite box has no space for such.
-Elfquest 1-21 (21 issues, 1979-1985)
Hey! Donít look at me like that. Mike Sterling was the first person to go public with his lack of enthusiasm for Elfquest. Blame him. Iím just joining the bandwagon.
-Groo the Wanderer 1-42 (42 issues, 1985-1987)
I really liked Sergio Aragonesí work in Mad. And I really like Mark Evanierís work (Iíll be indexing his Blackhawk run soon Ė Iíll need to work on my complimentary adjectives vocabulary in preparation for those entries). But I never liked this. At all. Sorry guys.
-Justice League of America 100-102 and 135-137 (6 issues, 1972 and 1976)
These were the first crossovers with the Seven Soldiers of Victory and Fawcett heroes. They are important in that respect, but like Crisis, the stories werenít that well-written, although 100-102 is much better than 135-137. And issue 102 stands as a great example as to why when an obscure character is killed, they are usually best left that way. Has there been a Red Tornado story that justifies his resurrection? Iíll answer that for you. No, there hasnít. Even worse, we were subjected to a couple years of Gerry Conwayís attempts to make Red Tornado a poor manís Vision. Blah.
-Superman Vol. 2 71-82; Action Comics 680-691; Adventures of Superman 494-505 (36 issues, 1992-1993)
Iíll admit I havenít read all of these issues, but Iíve read enough. At best these are average and at 36 issues, it takes up too much valuable space in our 1,600 limit.

There's something funny in that cheese up there in Wisconsin, but I'm not laughing!
-Captain America 100-111 (12 issues, 1968-1969)
Ugh. So many good Marvels of the era. But not this second-rate stuff. See here for an in-depth analysis of a couple of these issues.
-Daredevil 1-11 (11 issues, 1964-1965)
No. No. No. NO!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
-Detective 327-328 (2 issues, 1964)
Is anyone really ready for another whine-fest about my distaste for the New Look Batman? Yes, you say? Then go here for one example.
-Incredible Hulk 1-6 (6 issues, 1962-1963)
The early mindless Hulk stories were my least favorite growing up. I still donít like them. The inclusion of these 6 issues seems more a homage to the concept than to the best 6 Hulk stories ever written.
-Marvel Super Hero Contest Of Champions 1-3 (3 issues, 1982)
CBG slipped this one in as a joke to see if anyone was paying attention. Caught you dudes!
-The Man Of Steel 1-6 (6 issues, 1986)
How did this dreck make CBGís list? It failed in both purposes. It failed to tell interesting stories in and it failed to revamp Superman in any creatively meaningful fashion.

And there is today's ridiculously ambitious attempt at discussing 1,600 comics. I need a nap.

Posted by H at July 29, 2008 05:37 PM

Comments

To be fair, Kurt Busiek ruined any chance we had for Red Tornado to not be a poor man's Vision.

Of course the largest problem is that I believe DC needs an Android Super-Hero, just as Marvel needs a Captain America. That Android Super-Hero must have powers that exist independently of the fact that he is android, which is why Robotman does not count, and why the Vision on that Avengers cartoon was awful.